How the Canadian Banking System Works
Canada’s banking system is not real-time for most business payments.
Unlike credit cards or wire transfers, payments like EFTs, PADs, and bulk payouts move through a batch-based clearing system regulated by Payments Canada. VoPay operates entirely within these rules — it cannot bypass them.
👉 VoPay does not “hold” the money
👉 Banks do
Why Payments Take 4–5 Business Days
Day 0–1: Payment Is Submitted
The payment is created and sent to the banking network
Banks validate:
Account details
Authorization
Compliance (AML / fraud checks)
Nothing moves instantly here.
Day 1–3: Bank Clearing & Risk Review
Payments move through Payments Canada’s clearing system
Each bank reviews transactions individually
Large amounts (especially six or seven figures) are often:
Flagged for review
Staggered
Held pending internal approval
This step is entirely controlled by the receiving banks. We recommend calling your bank before your first Autopay settlement to inform them of your incoming deposit. This way they can leave a note on your account for the review team to allow the settlement to clear faster.
Day 3–5: Settlement & Posting
Once cleared, funds are:
Released by the sending bank
Accepted by the receiving bank
Each receiving bank decides when the funds appear
Some banks post immediately, others wait until end-of-day or next business day
This is why:
Some owners get paid sooner
Others later — even in the same batch
Why It Can Take Longer Than 3–4 Days Sometimes
Even though 3–4 business days is typical, delays happen when:
Amounts are large
Many recipients are involved
Banks run additional compliance checks
Funds are sent near a weekend or holiday
Receiving banks process slower than others
Once the payment status shows In Progress, it means:
✅ The funds have left your account
✅ The banks have the money
❌ VoPay cannot speed this up or reverse it
Why VoPay Can’t “Push” the Bank
Banks:
Do not allow third parties to override settlement timing
Do not provide real-time confirmation APIs
Do not prioritize transactions based on urgency or complaints
This is a regulatory limitation, not a technology issue.